Powelltown’s Terry Muller flies high over his Emerald
By Ben O’Brien
IT WAS four points the difference at half-time between Upwey and Healesville, and it was four points the difference at full-time – the only other difference was that a different team was ahead when the final siren sounded, in a cracking match of football at the Dome.
Not surprisingly, little separated the sides all day, but the Tigers were just that bit more efficient in front of goal, with 32 shots to 38 being enough to get them over the line, 19.13.127 to 17.21.123.
Eamonn Keogh and Mark Reilly each kicked five for their respective teams, with Ryan Van Hoorn and Reilly sharing BOG honours in a game that could have gone either way.
After a slower start to the year, Upwey are starting to get back on track, and have now won six on end, and the Bloods, while disappointed to not come away with the win, showed that they are sure to figure prominently come September.
Despite the loss, Healesville still maintain a two-game break over sixth-placed Wandin, who kept in touch with a 43-point victory over Warburton.
The deficit was 35 points at the first break, and had blown out to 75 points by 3/4 time, before the Burras added some respectability to their score in the final term.
The Dogs will be looking to keep their winning run going next week, when they take on Gembrook-Cockatoo, who were the latest cannon fodder for ladder leaders Silvan, going down by 159 points.
Gary Moorcroft dislodged teammate Ben Haynes from the top of the goalkicking ladder with 11 majors and a best-on-ground performance, while Ben Fenton was the Brookers’ best.
Monbulk overcame a one-point deficit at half time to finish over the top of Woori Yallock in the second half in a high-scoring match at Monbulk. Once again, the side with the most scoring shots lost, as the Hawks, led by the Hughsons, were victorious, 20.9.129 to 16.14.110.
In the final match of the round, Mt Evelyn brought up their third win of the year, over Olinda-Ferny Creek, by 63 points. The home team led by even 10 goals at half time, and maintained that margin for the remainder of the day.
Matt Whitehead kicked nine goals and was the difference between the sides, with Steven Willoughby the best for Olinda.
Four of the top five sides play each other next week, with Healesville hosting Monbulk and Woori hosting Silvan, in what should be another interesting round of Compass Group Division One action.
The half-way mark of the Commodore Press Division Two season sees only two games separating first from fifth, with every side having tasted defeat at least once.
Thornton-Eildon is on top, with the leading attack in the competition. They can also kick straight, as Yarra Junction found out on Saturday, the Shinboners powering away in the second half to win 28.9.177 to 17.11.113.
Rhys Chapman kicked six goals, and was ably assisted by Caleb Tiller and John Elliott who each kicked five. Travis Barton kicked a handful for Junction, but as plenty of sides are finding out, Thornton can be pretty hard to stop when they get on a roll. That victory sets up this week’s clash between the local rival in Thornton and Alexandra, who had the bye in Round 9.
For the first time in a fair while, the local rivals at the other end of the league met, and it was Belgrave who came out on top in the ‘Battle of the Bellys’, against near-neighbours South Belgrave, 29.18.192 to 11.9.75.
That win keeps the Magpies two points adrift of top spot, courtesy of their draw against Yarra Glen, while the loss is going to make it near impossible for the Saints to sneak into the finals over the next nine weeks.
Yarra Glen dug themselves into the top-five a little more deeply with a determined 24-point victory over an improving Seville. Scores were level at half time, but, as is often the case, the favourites had too much in the tank in the second half to ease away with a solid win.
Moate and Tucker each kicked four for the Thunder, while Scott Hunter did likewise for the Blues. After an ordinary year in 2006, Yarra Glen have set themselves up for a real crack at the finals over the second half of the year.
In the final game, which was the WorkSafe Victoria’s “game of the month”, Emerald overcame Powelltown’s highest score of the year to run out comfortable winners, Leigh McCombe’s 11 goals being a highlight.
Being two games adrift of fifth-place, the Bombers will have their work cut out to make up that deficit over the remaining half of the year.
